Once I get a little Christmas money in hand, I'm ready to make the switch from my CBR250R to either a 2012 (or '13) Vstrom or the NC700x. I thought my own personal budget constraints would keep me looking at the NC solely--the NC stickers at $6999 and the Strom at $8,299. I asked my local Honda dealer (who was kind enough to let me ride the NC as soon as they got it) to 'wet my whistle' for the kind of deal I could expect come Feb or March. He took the $6,999 and added tax, title, freight, prep for a total out the door of $7,713 (note, there is NO discount in there folks).

Back to comparing the two bikes, I feel after riding the NC that the VStrom is a small step (or stride) above the NC in power, capability, suspension adjustability, passenger room, and is the bike I REALLY want. I would be settling for the NC, but would be happy. The VSTROM is really what I want, but the $1,300 apart at retail (before such mentioned fees and setup) is what would be keeping me back.

So, I called a dealer in WV who is gaining a reputation for killer prices. I had visited them a month or so ago, and was impressed with their showroom and staff. So, I inquired with them as to what I could expect to pay for a new Strom. They said they NEVER charge freight or prep. This factor alone, plus the fact that they would actually discount the bike, makes the number comparison amazing. Their offer out the door is $7,818. WOW. One hundred five dollars more than the NC for a much more capable, customizable, powerful, roomier, etc bike.

Back to comparing the two bikes, I feel after riding the NC that the VStrom is a small step (or stride) above the NC in power, capability, suspension adjustability, passenger room, and is the bike I REALLY want. I would be settling for the NC, but would be happy. The VSTROM is really what I want, but the $1,300 apart at retail (before such mentioned fees and setup) is what would be keeping me back.

So, I called a dealer in WV who is gaining a reputation for killer prices. I had visited them a month or so ago, and was impressed with their showroom and staff. So, I inquired with them as to what I could expect to pay for a new Strom. They said they NEVER charge freight or prep. This factor alone, plus the fact that they would actually discount the bike, makes the number comparison amazing. Their offer out the door is $7,818. WOW. One hundred five dollars more than the NC for a much more capable, customizable, powerful, roomier, etc bike.

What say you guys?

Buy what you like. When all is said and done, you will regret the economies in your life more than your extravagances.

I asked my local Honda dealer (who was kind enough to let me ride the NC as soon as they got it) to 'wet my whistle' for the kind of deal I could expect come Feb or March.

Go back to that dealer when you're ready to buy and revisit the numbers. After all, he did let you demo the NC even though he likely knew you weren't yet a buyer. Price shopping 6 months before you're ready to buy is pointless - not to mention that Honda is always running incentive programs that can change month to month.

But as someone already pointed out, you'll be kicking yourself in the long run if you "settle" on the NC when you really want the Strom.

my $.02

__________________
Cheers!
TowJam

"I had to lay her down." - from the Latin phrase meaning "I fell over."

I'm hoping they bring back the 1.9% 36 month deal when it starts to rain, that's like free money.

Did they do away with it? That's what was offered when I bought mine 2 weeks ago. It goes up 1% per 12 months after that. I did 3.9% for 60 months just for a lower monthly payment while I pay off my wife's b-day and our anniversary trip...then plan on paying off the bike next year.

Yeah, it ended at the end of June. It was 1.9% for the full 36 months.

They must have brought it back...I bought mine on 8/4 in SoCal, and it was available.

1.9% for 36 month
2.9% for 48
3.9% for 60 (what I went with as mentioned above)
and I think they said they could go to 4.9% for 72 if I wanted. I did qualify for their top tier credit offers...so not sure if that is available for everyone, or not.

Some info gleaned from the factory service manual for the 700x regarding brakes...

- The DCT/ABS model (NC700XD) does indeed have three pistons on the front brake vs. two on the manual transmission model (NC700X)

* The two outer pistons on the XD are 27mm and operate with the front brake lever through the ABS controller
* The center piston on the XD is 22mm and operates from the rear pedal through the ABS controller and a delay valve
* The two pistons on the X are each 27mm
* The XD has larger front brake pads than the X
* The front master cylinders on both bikes are 11mm
* The rear master cylinders on both bikes are 14mm
* The rear brake calipers for both bikes have a single 38mm piston
* The rear brake on the XD operates through the ABS controller and a proportioning valve.

So, after review of the system plumbing, there should not be a dramatic difference between the dry pavement performance of the two systems, however, the XD should "win". The 3-piston "advantage" of the XD probably remains, but gets dissipated somewhat by the front delay valve timing the front brake application and the proportioning valve distributing the rear pedal force between the two brakes. The XD should have more front braking force than the X but less rear braking force. Overall, since my X model has proven to have very adequate brakes, I am not going to get hung up about which one "wins" in dry braking.

A note to the "modders" (calm down some of you, no-one said you HAD to mod the brakes. It would be dangerous and stupid to modify the factory braking system and you would die immediately if you did. Don't even think about it. This is even more dangerous than changing your own oil without factory tools and a white Honda lab coat):

1) Linked braking action on the XD could be removed while maintaining ABS with some re-plumbing of the brake lines so that both circuits of the front brake are fed from the front lever and the rear proportioning valve is removed.

2) The front brakes on the X could be hot-rodded by installing the front caliper from the XD and piping both circuits to the front lever.

3) In both cases, the front master cylinder would best be upsized to 13mm by finding one that is OEM on another bike or using an aftermarket master cylinder.